Publisher Mindscape is to release a Coronation Street title on Nintendo’s DS which it describes as “an adventure and task based concept set within the theme of the famous fictional street”.
The move comes thanks to consumer product licensee RTL Games, which is also behind an upcoming board game entitled Destination: Coronation Street.
“Coronation Street is a national institution and was watched by over 78 per cent of the UK television population in 2008,” ITV Global Entertainment’s international merchandise and licensing director Aysha Kidwai.

“We receive thousands of fan letters enquiring about the series every month. We’re responding to this huge demand by developing a range of exciting and innovative family targeted products inspired by the show.”
Mindscape has previously released titles based on other TV licenses such as Deal or No Deal, Golden Balls and Ready Steady Cook.
Coronation Street will be released on DS in Q4 this year.

http://www.casualgaming.biz/news/281...-Rovers-Return ...

GfK-ChartTrack has revealed to MCV that the Nintendo DS is teetering on the edge of a nine-million installed base in the UK.

And director Dorian Bloch said that he believed the imminent launch of successor the DSi will give those numbers yet more of a boost.

He told MCV: “We’re approaching nine million total DS units sold in the UK.

It was at 8.8 million at the end of ‘08, so should pass that number by the end of ’09.

“That’s a hell of a lot of DS handhelds already in the market, and there are quite a few publishers successfully exploiting those numbers, especially Ubisoft. We predict that the DSi launch will stimulate more growth.”

http://www.mcvuk.com/news/33165/DS-c...on-9m-UK-sales ...

Device to be sold alongside DS Lite when it launches in coming months, Nintendo boss confirms

Nintendo chief Satoru Iwata has confirmed that the DSi is still on course to launch in Europe and America in the next six months - but has added that the device will cost more than its predecessor the DS Lite.

The DSi is the third iteration of Nintendo's dual screen handheld and boasts bigger screens, a built in camera and downloadable content store amongst other tweaked and improved functions.

It launched in Japan in late 2008 and has been a big hit with consumers in the territory.

And in an interview with investors following its recent end-of-year financials, Nintendo boss Satoru Iwata has revealed more about the launch and manufacturing strategy for the DSi when it arrives in countries outside of Japan.

He said: "I am imagining that launches of DSi overseas will be in the first half of the next fiscal year. As for change on production ratio of DS Lite and DSi, I would like to cite a historical fact that in Japan, DS Lite was more expensive than the original DS but the total demand converged on DS Lite very quickly. But in Europe, it did not happen so fast and these two had been sold together side by side for a long time. And in the Americas, as the total momentum of DS was very weak then, we had to set the price of DS Lite the same as the original. As a result, the demand converged on DS Lite early on.

"This time, considering the current foreign currency exchange rates, there is no possibility of selling DSi overseas with the same price as DS Lite at all. There will have to be a difference in price. With this price difference, I think that the DS Lite and DSi will be sold side by side in the Americas and in Europe, but I will not be able to comment on their ratio today as we have not announced the prices and we will have to see how people react to the announcement."

Iwata also provided information on the early adopters that bought the device in Japan, saying that consumers were a mix of core and casual gamers, suggesting Nintendo is still growing the games market: "Those who understood DSi earlier are, of course, those who actively gather information about video game industry.

As these kind of people who already own DS start to try it first, they mainly account for the new owners of DSi at the early period.

"You might feel that the gaming population is not expanding at all if the same consumers are buying. But they may have a family whose members can be a recipient of their very own DS. So my understanding is that we must not stick to see just what kind of people have actually purchased DSi, but to measure how DS users would expand and how and what kind of people will be the owners of his or her own DS in the end.

"What I have talked about so far happened during nearly one month since the launch. In the second month, I mean December, more (various kinds of) people bought DSi. I have heard some reports like, 'As expected, those who seem to know much and well about videogames came in to buy' in November and 'much more various kinds of people are coming in to the store' in December, and those in the latter report are thought to be inactive to gather information of videogames; they did not see our websites beforehand, read the brochures in detail nor usually buy or read videogame magazines. These kinds of people came in and asked about the difference (between DSi & DS Lite) at retailers. After they learned the features of DSi, they were often grateful for the information, and gravitated towards the new DSi despite its higher costs and bought the DSi. And reports say those kinds of people are increasing.

"DS Lite is still maintaining a consistent amount of sales even after the launch of DSi. There are two reasons; one is because of DS Lite’s GameBoy Advance software functionality, and another is because DS Lite has more variation of colors. Others are buying DSi in high percentages. We also have reports of purchase by those who have never touched a DS."

http://www.mcvuk.com/news/33167/Iwat...-point-for-DSi ...

As part of a new feature of sorts at DCEmu ill be asking you the DCEmu Public which is the best of accessories for all the current gen consoles, i will stick all of the topics on our upcoming DCEmu.Com Site.

What this will be and thats more important is a way for the community to tell newcomers which item is best in a certain area.

first off

Which Classic Controller is the best on the Wii ?

Heres a rundown of whats available on the net

Blazepro Classic Controller


Price:USD 14.26
Available at SuccessHK

Super Famicom Classic Controller [Club Nintendo Limited Edition]


Price: US$ 74.90
Available at play asia

Wii Classic Controller


Price: US$ 24.90
Available at play asia

Hori Classic Controller


Price: US$ 34.90
Available at play asia

They are the main contenders, which one gets your vote for best Classic Controller on the Wii ? ...

Natsume working on another Harvest Moon game? No way! It looks like the publisher who tirelessly localizes Harvest Moon games for North America has another one on deck according to retail leak by good old Gamefly. They have Harvest Moon: Frantic Farming in their system slated to come out late spring-ish on the Nintendo DS. We’ll ignore the release date and focus on the existence of the game.

Hmm… which Harvest Moon game could Harvest Moon: Frantic Farming be? I’m going to guess Harvest Moon: Sparkling Sun and Companions which came out in Japan last February since it’s for the DS and fits the usual one year localization gap. The only thing that doesn’t fit nicely into the hypothesis is the “frantic” part of the subtitle. Farming should be less hustle and bustle in Harvest Moon: Sparkling Sun and Companions since players have the choice of the touch screen or button controls. Perhaps, Natsume’s subtitle is referring to the new pet mini games like Frisbee or the fact that you can toss monkeys.

http://www.siliconera.com/2009/02/04...-harvest-moon/ ...

Just got started with R-Type Dimensions and the neatest addtion is the graphics filter. This Xbox Live Arcade “game” is actually two games. Tozai Games remade R-Type and R-Type 2 with prettier 3D graphics for the Xbox 360.

Don’t like them? You can switch back to classic 2D graphics while you’re blasting the Bydo Empire’s swarm of spaceships. The on-the-fly graphics change is instant too so you can flip-flop between retro and future in the heat of a boss fight. You can also tilt the camera so you can see either game at an angle which is a little disorientating. Still, it’s an awesome trick that let’s players visualize R-Type in true 3D. Switching the graphics is a little feature compared to toning down the difficulty by letting new players cruise through with infinite lives and the help of a friend, but I’m impressed by it. More 3D remakes should include a “now and then” filter.

http://www.siliconera.com/2009/02/04...aphics-filter/ ...

Just got started with R-Type Dimensions and the neatest addtion is the graphics filter. This Xbox Live Arcade “game” is actually two games. Tozai Games remade R-Type and R-Type 2 with prettier 3D graphics for the Xbox 360.

Don’t like them? You can switch back to classic 2D graphics while you’re blasting the Bydo Empire’s swarm of spaceships. The on-the-fly graphics change is instant too so you can flip-flop between retro and future in the heat of a boss fight. You can also tilt the camera so you can see either game at an angle which is a little disorientating. Still, it’s an awesome trick that let’s players visualize R-Type in true 3D. Switching the graphics is a little feature compared to toning down the difficulty by letting new players cruise through with infinite lives and the help of a friend, but I’m impressed by it. More 3D remakes should include a “now and then” filter.

http://www.siliconera.com/2009/02/04...aphics-filter/ ...

Tokyo Beat Down won’t be alone. Namco Bandai has a 2.5D beat ‘em up of their own in development by Blitz Arcade for PlayStation Network and Xbox Live Arcade. Haven’t heard of the team? They made Powerup Forever and Sneak King.

Invincible Tiger: The Legend of Han Tao has a kung fu movie theme where players control Han Tao, General of a Thousand Victories, on his quest to track down the stolen Sacred Star. As a martial arts master Han Tao uses his fists and feet to pummel his way through warriors living and undead. A meter at the top of the screen charges up with each hit and lets Han Tao use more powerful zen moves.

All of this sounds basic, but then again the beat ‘em up genre is as elementary as you can get. These kinds of games can be pretty fun to play with a friend. Thankfully, Namco Bandai included co-op play. There are also online leaderboards for players to send their scores too and the screenshots show some kind of point multiplier. Actually, after looking at the screenshots I think Invincible Tiger: The Legend of Han Tao would be better received if it had gorgeous 2D sprites instead of 3D graphics. The style and character models just look so bland with the exception of the grainy film filter.

http://www.siliconera.com/2009/02/04...o-ps3xbox-360/ ...

Daniel Alvarez of Austin, Texas has been arrested on charges of aggravated assault after he attempted to strangle his girlfriend with a Wii controller cord, according to police. He's also suspected of eating her cookies.

Christina Alvarado, Alvarez's girlfriend, told police that she was attacked by her boyfriend after a fight, one brought on for possibly the stupidest reasons known to man. She was apparently enraged because the suspect ate her supply of Girl Scout Cookies. He was similarly pissed due to being awakened, only to be given the business about some missing Girl Scout Cookies

http://kotaku.com/5146637/man-arrest...wii-controller ...